Power actuated overload release clutch



Oct. 7, 1952 R. KRAUSE POWERACTUATED OVERLOAD RELEASE CLUTCH 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 14. 1947 M. T w W.

man 1?. Frwms'e W 43 444 MZ/a/nr '5 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

/0 Kraus'e fl/Ofl/PI/ N, R. KRAUS'E POWER ACTUATED OVERLOAD RELEASE CLUTCH my W Oct. 7, 1952 Filed Feb. 14. 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 7 151 R, KRAUSE POWER ACTUATED OVERLOAD RELEASE CLUTCH Oct. 7, 1952 Filed Feb. 14. 1947 Patented Oct. 7, 1952 POWER ACTUATED ovEnLoAn RELEASE CLUTCH Norman R. Krause, Racine, Wis, assignor to J. I.

Case Company, Racine, W1s., a corporation of I Wisconsin Application February 14, 1947, Serial No. 728,617

. 11 Claims.

This invention relates to a clutch mechanism and is particularly directed to a power actuated safety clutch throwout mechanism for use with clutches in which the disengagement of the clutch is resisted as a result of the heavy torque load on the clutch.

The invention is to be adaptedto theconstruction of clutches for Various types of farm machinery such assilo-fillers and harvesters, and in which the clutches are usually of simple mechanically interlocking members employing teeth on the clutch faces having a small or negative pressure angle for the purpose of transmitting heavy loads. Such clutches present substantial resistance to disengagement of the teeth when under load.

With these conditions in view one object of the invention is to provide a clutch with a throwout mechanism which is operated by rotation of the drive shaft or power actuated means of the machine rather than by manual operation of the clutch shifter arm.

Another object of the invention is to provide for engagement of the power clutch release mechanism either automatically or manually.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple and reliable means to effect disengagement of the clutch by the power actuated'means.

Another object of the invention is to provide ina power clutch, release trip mechanism for the selective manual resetting of the mechanism and automatically therewith the re-engagement of the clutch or the initiation of the machine in reverse operation and automatically therewith the resetting of the trip mechanism.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a power clutch, release trip mechanism responsive to overloading of the machine for the reversing of the machine, and iorreloading and the resetting therewith automatically of the release trip mechanism by power means.

Another object of the invention is to provide a clutch'having increased driving power.

These and other objects of the invention will appear hereinafter in connection with the following description of the drawings illustrating several embodiments of the invention.

In the drawings: 1 l

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a portion of a forage chopper with the gear boxes and one side plate removed and parts in section, and with the clutch engaged and feed rolls and bail in normal position prior to feeding forage thereto;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 with the clutch disengaged byoperation of the bail;

Fig. 3 is a rear end elevation of the chopper with parts broken away to showthe clutch;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig l showing feeding of forage to the machine, with broken lines showing automatic disengagement of the clutch by clogging of the feed rolls;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the clutch mechanism with parts broken away and sectioned and showing the clutch collar ine'nga'gement with the clutch drive pinion as in Fig. l;

Fig. 6 is a view similar toFig. 5 with the clutch collar riding freeg Y g Fig. '7 is a view similar to Fig. 5 with the reverse drive clutch pinion engaged by the clutch collar and the cam contact arm down;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the cam an contact arm with the latter inengagement;

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8 showing the arm being pushed out of the path of the cam;

Fig. 10 is a detail view of the teeth of the clutch; l

Fig. 11 is an elevational view with parts broken away of a square shaft for the clutch collar; and

Fig. 12 is a section taken .on line I2-|2 of Fig. 11.

p The drawings show, in part, a chopper with which the invention may be employed and comprising in general a frame I which supports the power actuated drive shaft Zfor driving all of the feeding. mechanism of the machine and which governs the starting andstopping of such mechanisms. The mechanisms of the machine are enclosed in a housing or casing 3 secured to'the iramel. v

The feeding mechanism in general comprises the conveyer-v rake 4 onto. which the operator throws the fodder to be chopped, from a wagon, not shown, the floating feed rollers 5 and 6 operating in conjunction with the drum member 1, the cutter cylinder 8 and the conveyor 9. The

fodder moves forwardly on'carrier 4 beneath the. first floating roll 5 and between the second floating feed roll 6 and'onto the cutting plate I 0 at the far edge of which it iscut by knives II on cutter cylinder 8. After cutting, the fodder falls down onto screw conveyor 9 for conveyance into the silo or other storage structure. The feeding and cutting mechanisms are supported on frame i and need not be iurtherdescribed as they form no part of the invention. f

The clutch mechanism illustrated has a clutch collar [2 whichiskeyedto shaft 2 by feather key I3. ,Collar 12 slides axially of shaft 2 to engage, the drive clutchpiniondlwhen slid tothe right, as shown in Fig. 5, and clutch pinion when slid to the left, as shown in Fig. 7.

Pinions l4 and I5 float rotationally on drive shaft 2 and are coupled into driven engagement with the shaft when engaged respectively by the axially movable clutch collar 2. The bearing It for shaft .2 prevents: axial. displacement: of pinion I4 and bearing |1 prevents axial displacement of pinion l5 when the pinions are selectively engaged by collar |2.

Pinion |4 meshes with the power output. or.

driven shaft beveled gear I8 to rotate the same in a forward direction and pinion |5 meshes with gear I8 to drive the latter in a reverse: direction.

as the pinions are selectively-engaged by drive collar 2.

Collar l2 has a pair of spaced. circumferentialfianges l9 between which rides the operating yoke 20 of clutch lever 2|.

Clutch lever 2| is pivoted to frame I at 22 and terminates: inhand1e123ati the outer end, whereby the: lever'may be. manually operated. to. selectively engage and disengage the clutch collar |2:relative:to either'gear. |4 or-gear I5.

Clutchlever- 2| may-be spring. biased to hold collar |2 in engagement. withthe-forward drive lever 2| and is disposed forv rotation. and axial moyementin suitable hearings in frame-I. Shaft 26 isbiasediaxiallyinone directionby spring 21 extendingbetween-frame and a washer 28 on the shaft. A collar 29 on shaft 26 hearing against the. opposite side of. frame I limits the axial: movement. of .the .shaftunder the influence of. the. spring 21. The collar 29 additionally serves to resist rotation of shaft 26 by reasonof itssfrictional engagement withiframe I under the biasing influenceof spring. 21.

- The rotational movement of, shaft. 26 is governed by-the control crank arm. 30 rigidly securedon. the free end of. the shaft and which abuts against stops 3| on frame I to limit its movement in either direction- The clutch disengaging mechanism comprises the helical cam 32 on clutch pinion M which terminates in. the generally perpendicular contact face. 33', and the cam contact arm 34 which is rigidly secured to shaft 26' in radial alignment withcam 32;

Contact arm- 34 is brought into the path of cam 3'2by'manual or automatic operation of arm 30 which'is adapted to lift arm' 34 into the path of the rotating cam through rotation of shaft 26.

For example, as shown in. Fig. 1, the link 35 is connected: atone end to the crank arm 30 and is;pivo.ted' at the: other end to the bail 3B. Bail 3Bis pivotedtto frame I and its upper bail end is disposed across the opening leading. into the machine from casing. 3. Should. the. operator push the bailtoward the opening by accident or otherwise, arm 30 will be lifted against stop 3| to rotate shaft 26 in a direction effecting engagement of cam 32 by arm 34.

'As arm 34 rides along cam 32, shaft 26 is pulled axially to the right, as shown in Fig. 6, and clutch-lever 2| isengaged by a pusher collar 31'rigidly secured to the-.shaft'26- in a position to engage the lever 2|. This shifts the inner end or yoke 20 of lever 2| to the left to disengage clutch collar |2 from clutch pinion I4. Both of the clutch pinions l4 and 5 then ride free on shaft 2 and the driven gear l8 ceases to rotate.

When the clutch is disengaged and the clutch collar I2 is. in a: neutral position as shown in Fig. 6, collar |2 isheld' against-shifting. through vibration of the machine or other disturbances by: the spring 25 and the contact arm 34 in engagementwith cam 32. The spring 21 holds contact arm 34" against cam 32 and spring 25 reacts to hold clutch lever 2| tightly against collar 31. By definitely-"locking. the driving mechanism out ofrengagement the; danger of the starting thereof through carelessness or vibration of the machineis. substantially eliminated.

Arm may be similarly operated to disengage thezclutchby automatic means responsive to an overload determined by'the floating feed rolls 5 andfi-which constitute, a load governor.

For this.- purpose. the. automatic tilting. of. arm.

30 to disengage. the. clutch. occursby, vertical up.- ward movement. of. a. rod. 38 whichv passes. freely. through. the end of arm,.30 and tendstosupport the same by a spring 39 betweenarm .30 and. a washer and nut on the lower. endoftherod'.

The upper endof rod38 is pivotally secured to anoperating arm 4|] whichis in turn. pivotally supportedby the'shafts of the. floating. feedrolls 5 and. 6.. The. feed. rolls. 5 and 6,. as they-float uponthe fodder passing into. the machine serve to.control'. the vertical. movement of'rod 38, and whenan excessive. amount of fodder is. fed to the machine the rod 38 willj'be. liftedto a point wherev spring 39 will lift arm 30and rotate arm 34' into thepathof cam 32.

The. feed. rolls 5. and. B fl'oatin corresponding,

thatit. will. noteffectrot'ation. ofshaft. 26'. against the. frictional. resistance. of. collar 29 until the spring issubstantially eompressedby. engagement with..arm.3|l uponan overload. This provides for normalfloating of the rolls without operation of the clutch throwout. Furthermore arm. 34 isv capable. of substantial upward movement under normal floating without. contacting cam32.

Arms. 40 and 43 are; yieldingly downwardly urgedv byv springs 44. acting through. tensionrods. 45 pivotally connected. with. the corresponding arms between the rolls 5 and 6..

When contact. arm is in engagement with cam321, as described, the cam effects axial movement of shaft. 26 in a. direction to compress spring 2.1 andWiILnotpermit.returnof shaft 26 to neutral positionuntil. contact arm- 34 is again disengaged. from. cam 32. This may be accomplished in several ways.

For examplashaft 23 may be-rotated todrop contact. arm 34 out of engagement. withcam 32, such. asby manual. pulling ofv the bail 36 forwardly, in a direction opposite to. thearrow in Fig. 1, or by reversing the clutch by manual operationof lever 2|. as-shown in Fig. '7.

In the;first:case, where the overloadin of the machineuisnot severe, pullingofbail36 forwardly causing, arm 34 to. lower outof. engagement with cam132j allows spring 21 tomove rod2firand spring 215.: to :move;le.ver: 2| to .the. left tore-engage collar I2 and pinion 1.4:. and-restart the-machine.v

In the latter case clutch collar l2is shifted into engagement with the reverse clutch pinion l5 by the operator. Upon reverse rotation of the driven shaft member i8 by pinion 15, the opposite clutch pinion l4 having the cam 32 is also reversely rotated.

The reverse rotation of cam 32 causes the contact arm 34 to axially follow the cam face 32 until the perpendicular face 33 of the cam engages the arm 34 pushing the latter downwardly and out of the path of the cam. Clutch collar i2 is then again free to be engaged with pinion [4 to drive the same forwardly, by reasonof the movement of shaft 26 axially to the left by the biasing of spring 21 against frame I.

As an additional safety feature of the invention, lever 2| may be shifted by the operator through the cable or rope 2| which is secured to the lever adjacent handle 23. i

Rope 2 l may extend upwardly to a wagon, not shown, from which the fodder is being 1oaded into the machine.

If for any reason the clutch mechanism should disengage through the cam action described and the feed mechanism of the machine stop, the

operator can at any selected time pull on rope 2 I to force clutch collar l2 into engagement with reverse drive pinion l5 to release the cam contact arm 34 and free the clutch for driving the machine as previously described.

The power disengagement of the clutch in case of emergency eliminates the requirement of providing the usual pressure angle between the clutch teeth 45' tending to disengage the clutch. With the present invention the teeth 45' may be set at an interlocking angle of from two to three degrees, as shown in Fig. 10, and greater driving power may thereby be transmitted by the clutch without danger of slipping out of engagement.

Under another construction of the clutch collar 12 and pinions I4 and 15 as shown in Figs. 11 and 12, the drive shaft 2 is formed square between the clutch pinions l4 and l 5 to receive the clutch collar I 2 and drive the same. Fig. 11 illustrates only the left half of the assembly. As there shown, pinion l5 rides free on the round portion of shaft 2 between shoulder 46 of the square portion of the shaft and bearing IT. The hardened washer 41 is placed between pinion l5 and shoulder 46 to protect the bearing surfaces. The assembly of pinion M with shaft 2 is the same. The bearing [6 shown in Fig. 10 and bearing I1 shown in Fig. 11 cooperate with shoulders of the square shaft to prevent lateral displacement of the pinions on shaft 2.

An arrangement of the automatic clutch and reverse gear with the driving shafts for rolls 6 and 1 is shown in Fig. 3.

A power input pulley 48 is mounted on one side of the chopper on shaft 2 extending through and beneath the chopper to the clutch mechanism located on the opposite side of the chopper. A chain 49 connects sprocket gear 50 on driven shaft member 18 of the clutch mechanism and gear 5! which drives the gears in gear box 52 mounted above the clutch mechanism.

Two flexible shafts 53 and 54 extend from the gear box 52 to drive rolls 6 and I from the gears in the box.

Shafts 53 and 54 are fitted with universal joints 55 and shaft 53 has a spline connecting element 56 to provide and allow for free movementof roll 6 in slot 42.

A sprocket chain 51 drivingly connects roll 5 61 on the outside of side plate 3 and on the'side op-' posite gear box 52 with roll 5 to rotate roll 5 from gear box 52 through shaft 53. A sprocket chain 58 similarly connects roll 1 and the end drive sprocket for conveyer rake 4 to drive the same from gear box 52 through shaft 54. 1

The invention provides a safety clutch operating mechanism which is applicable to various machines, particularly farm machinery, where a power throwout is desirable in order to reduce or provide a negative pressure angle for the clutch teeth.

The construction serves to lock the clutch members out of engagementuntil the lock is released by manual tripping of lever 2| to a reverse clutch drive. Vibration of the machine will not trip the locking arm 34 off from the top of cam 32, since spring 21 definitely biases the arm against the cam.

The clutch may be actuated by various types of control for different machines, and may be shifted by a suitable remote control, as by cable 2 I.

Various embodiments of the invention may be employed within the scope of the accompanying claims.

I claim:

1. In a rotary clutch for driving work members and having intermeshing teeth on a pair of drive and driven clutch members presenting substantial resistance to axial disengagement under heavy power transmittal loads, a power clutch throwout mechanism comprising a cam rotated in correlation to the rotation of the driven clutch member, a lever mechanism normally free of said cam and disposed to be moved into the path of said cam to be operated thereby to effect axial separation of said clutch members, safety mechanism operable by said work members to move said lever mechanism into the path of said cam, and means for effecting disengagement of said lever mechanism and cam and the resetting of said lever mechanism relative to said cam.

2. In a rotary clutch having intermeshing teeth on a pair of drive and driven clutch members presenting substantial resistance to axial disengagement under heavy power transmittal loads, a power clutch throwout mechanism comprising a cam on the driven clutch member, lever mechanism disposed to be tripped into the path of said cam to effect axial separation of said clutch members, said cam being adapted to release said lever mechanism therefrom upon reversal of the driven clutch member, and power means operable in response to axial separation of said clutch members to reverse the rotation of said driven clutch memher and cam to release said lever mechanism.

3. In a clutch throwout mechanism assembled with a power driven shaft, a rotary driving clutch member disposed on said shaft in axial alignment with a rotary driven clutch member assembled on the shaft, positive interengaging means on the faces of said members to transmit torque therebetween and which resist disengagement under load, a cam on said driven member substantially opposite the clutch face thereof, means disposed to engage and disengage said clutch members, means adapted to be moved into engagement with said cam to force said first named means to disengage the clutch members upon forward rotation of the cam by said shaft, said cam engaging means being automatically moved out of engage-- ment with said cam upon reverse rotation of said driven member and cam, and power means-operable in response to axial separation of said clutch members to; reverse the: rotation of said driven.

member and? cam to move said. cam. engaging means outv of: engagement: therewith.

4: In :a clutch throwout mechanism assembled with:apowerdrivenishaft, a rotary driving clutch member disposed on -said'shaftfin axial alignment witha'rotary'driven clutchmemberassembled on the. shaft, positive interengaging means on the faces'oi said-members to. transmit torque therebetween and which. resist disengagement; under load, a cam'on said drivenmember substantially opposite the clutch face thereof, means disposed to:engageandzdisengage said driving and driven clutch members, means adapted to be moved into engagement withsaid cam to force-said means engaging and disengaging theclutch members to disengage theclutch members upon forward rotation of the cam by said shaft, and a second rotary driven clutch member engageable by said driving, clutch member upon disengagement of the driving clutch member with said first named driVencIutChmember, and means coupling said driven clutch members whereby driving of said second named driven clutch member effects reverse rotation of the camon said firstnamed driven clutch member to reverse the rotationof the cam by said shaft to release said cam engagingmeans'and make possible the re-engagement ofsaid driving and first named driven clutch members.

.5; In a-clutchthrowout mechanism assembled with a power. driven shaft, a rotary driving member disposed on said shaft in axialalignment with a rotary driven memberassembled on the shaft, interengaging clutch faces on said members, a pivoted clutchxleverfor engaging and disengaging said members; a control shaft disposed adjacent said lever and parallel with said driveshaft and disposedto rotate and to move axially, an abutment on said control shaft and adapted to engage said lever and to move the same in a direction to disengage the clutchmembers upon axial movement of said control shaft in one direction, a cam on saiddriven member substantially opposite the clutchface thereof, and an. arm secured-to'said controlshaft and disposed to engagesaid cam upon rotation of the control shaft to biassaid-control shaft axially and thereby operatev the clutch lever by said abutment and effect disengagement of .said clutch members.

6.. Inaclutch throwout mechanism assembled with a power. driven shaft, a rotary driving member'disposedon said shaft in axial alignment with arotary driven member assembled on the shaft, interengaging. clutch faces onsaid members,. a pivoted clutch lever for engaging and disengaging saidmembers, a control shaft disposed adjacent said lever. andparallel withsaid drive shaft and disposedto-rotate and to. move axially, an abutment on-said controlshaft and adapted to engage saidlever. and. tomove. the same in a direction to disengage the clutchmembers upon axial movement of saidcontrol shaft inonedirection, a cam on said driven-member substantially opposite the clutch face thereof, an arm secured to said con.- trol shaft and disposed to engage said cam upon rotation of the-control shaft to bias said control shaft axially and thereby operate the clutch lever bysaid abutment and effect. disengagement-of saidclutch members, and a manual safety lever disposed to-rock said control shaft to effect engagementof saidcam by said arm and thereby initiate-operation of. the clutch throwoutmecha- -nism..

witha powerv drivensha-ft; ,a rotary driving-:member. disposed.onsaidshaftinz axial alignment. with a rotary driven. member. assembled on. the shaft,- interengaging clutch. faces on said members, a pivoted clutch lever for engagingand. disengag ing said members, a control shaft. disposed-ad jacentsaid lever and. parallel with said drive shaft and disposed to rotate andto move axially, an abutment on said. control shaft and adapted to engage said lever and to move the. same in a direction. to disengagethe. clutch members upon axial movement of said control shaft in one/direction, acam on said driven member substantially opposite'the clutch face thereof, an arm secured to said control shaft and disposed. to en,- gage said cam upon. rotation. of. the. control. shaft to bias said control shaft axially and thereby operate the clutch lever by said abutment and ef: fect disengagement ofsaid. clutchmembers, and a crank connected to said control. shaft to rock the same and eifectengagementv of said cam. by said arm to initiate operation of the clutchthrowout mechanism. upon. movement in response to predetermined actuating. conditions. v

8. A safety'control device for machinesand the like subject to overloading. and stoppageand having a driving and a driven shaft, comprising axially. engaging clutch elements operatively con.- necting said shafts, a cam rotatedby one of said shafts, a pivotally mounted cam engaging lever disposed to move theclutch. elementof the. other of said shafts under the influence of saidcam to disengagesaid clutch and disconnect said shafts, andmechanical means connected to the machine and said cam engaging leverv to rotate. the latter into operative engagement with said cam upon overload of. the machine.

9. In a powerv driven machine, aclutch. device for automatically eifecting stoppage or. the. machine, comprising axially engaging clutch. elements operatively connecting the. machine and power drive means therefor, means. normally biasing the first of saidv elements in engagement with the second, a cam operatively connected for rotation with the second of said elements, a movable lever selectively engaging said cam, abutment means carried by said lever disposed to move the first of' said elements out of engagement with the. other upon movement of said lever in one direction, means biasing said lever in a direction making said abutment normally inoperative, and crank means carriedby the machine and connected to-said'lever toeffect pivotal movement of said lever into engagement with said cam for operatively positioning-said. abut.- ment and disconnecting said elements.

10. A transmission mechanism for machines subject to overloading. and stoppagev comprising a drive shaft, a driven shaft operatively connected to drive the machine, spaced corresponding forward andreverse clutch elements rotatable upon said drive shaft and. oppositely drivingly connected to said driven shaft, a clutch element driven and movably carried by said. drive shaft between said spaced clutch. elements selectively to engage the latter, means biasing said movable clut'chelement inone direction. into engagement with one of. said spaced clutch. elements, cam means rotatively carried by saidengaged. clutch element and operably connected to said movable clutch element to move the. same in-the opposite direction. out of engagementv with said clutch element, a. crank. disposed to. actuatesaid. cam means in response to overloading andv stoppage of. the machine effecting the positivedisengagement of said clutch elements, and manual means disposed to efiect the engagement of said movable clutch element with the other of said driven clutch elements and the resetting of said cam means.

11. In a power driven machine subject to overloading and stoppage, a safety transmission comprising a driven shaft operably connected to the machine, a, drive shaft, a gear carried by said driven shaft, a pair of gears carried by said drive shaft in spaced relation and engaging opposite sides of said first named gear to rotate the same in opposite directions, clutch elements carried by each of said pair ofgears, a movable clutch element slidably carried upon said drive shaft between said flrst named clutch elements and connected to be rotated by said drive shaft, a lever disposed to move said movable clutch element selectively into engagement with either of said first named clutch elements, an abutment normally out of engagement with said clutch operating lever and disposed to be moved into engagement with said lever to disengage the movable clutch element, a cam on at least one of said driven clutch elements, a cam follower disposed to be moved into engagement with said cam and connected to said abutment to operate the same under the influence of said cam, and means responsive to overloading of the machine and dis posed to move said follower into the path of said cam to effect disengagement of said movable clutch element, said follower being positively released from said cam upon engagement of said movable clutch element with the opposite driven clutch element.

NORMAN R. KRAUSE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

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